Want to Get a Head Start on Planning Next Year's Garden?

     This is the South, and I know a lot of people who have gardens. We grow a great many things down here and whether it's vegetables or flowers, herbs or trees and shrubs, we all want to know how to choose the right plants, how to check soil conditions, and, increasingly, how to do all of this without a bunch of chemicals. Well, the library has two new books that can help you with that particular conundrum.

     The first is Southern Gardening: An Environmentally Sensitive Approach by Florida Master Gardener Marie Harrison. The author gives you all her tips and tricks for creating a verdant landscape that any gardener would be proud to call their own. Harrison's comprehensive guide focuses on environmentally conscious yards by suggesting use of ground-cover as well as easy-care, adaptable trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. She tells you how to deal with exotic and invasive plants that threaten natural areas and native plants. She offers minimally damaging ways to deal with insect pests. Plus, she includes a month-by-month guide for planning your earth-friendly garden. (On a side note; I would like to thank the Green Hills Garden Club, Hester Flowers Garden Club, Openwood Garden Club, and the Morning Gardeners Garden Club for presenting this wonderful resource to the library!)
     The second title for environmentally friendly gardening is Roses Without Chemicals by Peter E. Kukielski. This book includes one hundred fifty disease-free varieties of roses that the author rates on its disease resistance, flowering, and fragrance.

Since roses have a reputation for being finicky plants that require chemicals and fertilizers to remain healthy, this book offers a refreshing look at recent breeding efforts that have produced disease resistant varieties that perform wonderfully in all types of conditions. Kukielski lets the reader know which varieties perform best in each region and gives tips for simple cultivation techniques that are sure to result in beautiful, easy-to-care-for roses that will fill your garden. Also included is a helpful resource guide and a list of other books to help you make the most of your garden.
     Gardeners will enjoy flipping through these books and may even be inspired to try something new in their next gardening project. Both contain full-color photographs that will make it easier to identify the plants they wish to use in the garden. These two books--along with many others found in the library--will help you make your garden lush and beautiful with minimal use of harmful and potentially dangerous chemicals.

New Additions to our Adult Non-Fiction

We've had several interesting books added to our New Adult Non-Fiction section.  Here is a selection of four of the ones available.



In The Book of Joan, Joan Rivers' daughter and co-star of 'Fashion Police' Melissa Rivers shares some of her memories and many stories about her mother,

Beginning and ending with speaking about her late mother's passing in September of last year, the book is a tribute, a memorial and an inside look at the private side of the public mother-daughter relationship that they shared.

A companion volume to the Fox News historical docudrama series, Bill O'Reilly's Legends & Lies looks behind the tall tales and fables that have been told over the years about many of the colorful characters from the westward expansion of America.

The truth behind many of the figures was sometimes brutal, but in many cases, the true stories are more interesting than the legends that have been retold over the years.





Oscar nominated actress/singer/comedian Madeline Kahn, who passed away in 1999, is remember and saluted in Madeline Kahn : Being the Music, A Life by William Madison.

Through interviews with her friends, family and colleagues, Madison covers both the highs and lows of her career and focuses on her love of music and the importance that it played in her life.

Filmmaker Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, etc) is a self-confessed comedy nerd and has been since his youth when he took a dish-washing job in a comedy club so that he could watch the comedians for free.

In his new book, Sick in the Head, he shares some of the interviews he's done with some of the greatest comics of our times.  Starting back in 1983, he's spoken with comic legends like Mel Brooks and Steve Allen as well as newer comic stars such as Amy Schumer.  It's an entertaining as well as insightful look into some of the funniest brains in the business.


All of these books can be found in our New Adult Non-Fiction section along with many others.  Look over our selection - we have something for nearly everyone's reading preference.

Another Pair of DIY Books!

     People are always asking me for books on different hobbies. Who can blame them? Most people enjoy learning new skills or improving on the ones they already have. Sometimes people want to turn their hobbies into small businesses to bring in a little extra money. Well, the library is always a good place to browse when you want to do any of the preceding. We have books on hobbies, small business, and turning your hobbies into a small business.
     A popular idea for hobbyists is soapmaking. I often see handmade soaps at flea markets and craft fairs. In the days before commercial soaps, people made their own at home; usually from ashes and animal fat also known as tallow. There were also soaps made from olive oil and later coconut oil. These were usually expensive and, as such, were reserved for the wealthy. Nowadays, however, soapmaking is usually left to hobbyists or homesteaders and is therefore not a common skill. The library has recently acquired two books on making your own soaps for your own personal use or even as a small craft-based business idea.

     The first book is called, The Natural & Handmade Soap Book written by Sarah Harper. There are twenty soap recipes for bath time, kids, home, and gifts. The author shows you how to use two key techniques in making your own artisan soap--the traditional cold-process method and the faster melt-and-pour method. Included are recipes for soaps, shampoo bars, homemade laundry detergent, and even dishwasher soaps. These recipes include handy tips and tricks that will help you perfect your technique and allow you to find your own variations of ingredients for your projects. There is a comprehensive list of the tools needed for both techniques as well as an outline of how to be safe while pursuing your new hobby. Harper also includes some advanced techniques as well as a list of suppliers and other resources that may prove useful.
     The second book for the hobby soapmaker is The Complete Soapmaker: Tips, Techniques & Recipes for Luxurious Handmade Soaps by Norma Coney. This book walks you through every step of the process of soapmaking.

From finding and using the right equipment and ingredients to handling lye safely and making basic bars or fancy molded and marbled soaps, this book covers more than fifty hand-milled recipes that include herbs, fruits, and vegetables. There are also specialty soaps including translucent bars, gels, and shampoos. Coney includes tips on storing your soaps so that their fragrance will be preserved as well as how to gift-wrap and display any soaps you want to sell. She also includes convenient conversion charts for figuring out weights, volume and temperature.
     Why not try one of these or any of the other hobby books the library offers?!

An Unexpected and Horrific Family Secret Uncovered

How would you deal with the sudden discovery that your grandfather was a mass murderer?  One that would, had he lived to see you, have killed you as well?

That was the situation that author Jennifer Teege, a German-Nigerian woman, found herself in when she was 38 and happened to randomly choose a book from the shelf that would radically alter her perception of her family and the Holocaust.  A picture in the book that she recognized as her grandmother and mother led her to a stunning discovery - her grandfather was the Butcher of Plaszow - Amon Goeth, who was the vicious Nazi commandant portrayed in the movie Schindler's List.

That discovery led Teege on a search to unearth her family's history.  This book is about that search and her personal search to find peace with her heritage.  Nikola Sellmair, an award winning journalist, adds in another narrative using interviews with friends and family as well as giving historical context to what Teege discovers during her quest.

This is an intriguing memoir and shows how profoundly the past can affect the present.  It might even lead readers to wonder how well they know their own family's background.

New Cookbooks for Those with Special Dietary Needs

     The library gets quite a few cookbooks every year and I must admit that I can't wait for them to arrive! Many of our patrons--myself included--love to try new recipes and we genuinely love to cook. Unfortunately, if you are like me, then there are some foods that just don't sit well on your stomach. What do you do when there are certain foods you absolutely can't (or won't) eat? Well, we have all sorts of cookbooks for people who have special dietary needs. Most recently we have acquired three new titles that have recipes to hit the spot with those who are vegetarian or those who have food allergies.

     The first book is the Idiot's Guide: Gluten-Free Eating by Elizabeth King Humphrey and Jeanette Hurt. It seems everywhere you turn these days someone is talking about going "gluten-free," but what does that really mean? If you are looking for the answer to that question (and many more), then this is the book to begin your journey. You will learn the difference between celiac disease, gluten allergy, and gluten intolerance. Included are tips for spotting glutenous foods at the market, at restaurants, and when traveling. The authors offer guidance on how to feed gluten-sensitive children--even picky eaters--as well as meal plans to help the whole family thrive on a gluten-free diet. Although this book doesn't have any color photographs of its more than ninety recipes, readers will enjoy them nonetheless. Personally, I have always had good luck with the books from Idiot's Guides, they are always informative and, for those who are just learning about a new subject, they are quite easy to follow and understand. Also included are lists of glossary of terms, product and shopping websites, delivery websites, communities, smartphone apps, support organizations, and other instructional sites. You will also find the shopping list and and food log pages helpful when you are just starting your gluten-free lifestyle.

     The next title in this group is from Good Housekeeping; it's called Vegetarian: Meatless Recipes Everyone Will Love. Before you get to the recipes, there is a short introduction about what a vegetarian diet is, which foods are featured, and tips to help busy people make the most of their time and dollars. With more than sixty recipes--each with a full color photo--this book is arranged into six informative chapters. You can choose from classic vegetarian dishes like Vegetarian Chile, Ratatouille Rigatoni, or Eggplant Parmesan. Perhaps you prefer a hearty bowl of soup or stew. Choose from recipes for Hot and Sour Soup, Chunky Vegetable Chowder, or a classic French Onion Soup. For those who crave the lighter fair that a salad offers, then why not choose one of the Main-Dish Salad recipes? Try the White Bean Panzanella Salad or the Toasted Ravioli Salad. Maybe you're pressed for time. Then you may want to try one of the Quick Dinners or One Dish Meals. Mouth-watering dishes like Broccoli Pesto Spaghetti, Fast Fried Rice, Vegetable Phyllo Pizza, and Cauliflower Mac and Cheese are contained in the last two chapters. Because these recipes come from Good Housekeeping, you know the recipes are fine tuned for flavor and ease of cooking.

     The final book I'll talk about is Cooking Allergy-Free by Jenna Short. This book of one hundred fifty recipes was developed for those who have food allergies. Each recipe is labeled wheat-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc., so that you will know which of these recipes will satisfy the sensitive tummies in your family. The author also offers simple substitutions to convert each recipe for an individual's food allergy. She also denotes whether a recipe is vegetarian or vegan. All of the recipes contained here are kosher. You will find dishes such as Kale and Barley Soup, Rosemary Skillet Chicken with Mushrooms and Potatoes, Edamame Sliders, and Blueberry Lemon Crumble Pie. The author also includes an entire chapter devoted to giving you the essential information about grocery shopping, stocking your pantry, and tricks for setting up your kitchen to be allergen-friendly. She also offers menu suggestions to make it quick to plan weeknight dinners or even a party!
     All three of these books (and many more) are available for check-out from the library. They can be found in the non-fiction section around the 641.563 call number. For non-fiction books, you may check out four of the same subject at one time and keep them for three weeks. If no one has requested any of your books, then you are more than welcome to renew them by coming in to the Circulation Desk or call us at (601) 636-6411. Bon Appetit!

New Titles on the Cleveland Abductions, Three Women Who Survived Years in Captivity and Their Miraculous Escape

We have two books in our New Adult Nonfiction section, both of which cover the Cleveland abductions committed by Ariel Castro

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In 'The Lost Girls', investigative journalist John Glatt goes into the story behind the headlines of the Cleveland abductions of three unrelated women starting in 2003 and not ending until 2013 when Amanda Berry broke free of the house with the assistance of Angel Cordero and Charles Ramsey, calling the police and setting into motion the release of her fellow prisoners, Michelle Knight and Gina DeJesus.

Glatt used the information gathered from over eighteen months of interviews and research, piecing together the story of Ariel Castro, their kidnapper, from his childhood to his suicide after his arrest. But mostly, the story is about three women thrust into captivity who managed to survive and gain their freedom.

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The second book, 'Hope', is the story of two of the survivors, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus.  Washington Post reporters, Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan, worked with the two women using their recollections and the diary Amanda Berry kept to tell their story as well as using the original reporting on the girls disappearances to fill in the blanks for a full telling of their years in the Castro house in Cleveland.

Amanda Berry (who was kidnapped in 2003, one day before her seventeenth birthday) and Gina DeJesus (a fourteen year old who was kidnapped almost a year later) share their thoughts and frustrations as well as how they have restarted their lives since finally regaining their freedom.

The Two Newest by Miranda James

     Cozy mysteries are my favorite. I enjoy a hard-boiled detective story every once-in-awhile, but cozies are my favorite because the protagonist is usually your average Joe or Jane and the blood and guts and gore is usually kept to a minimum. One of my more recent discoveries has been author Miranda James. This author writes a series of books called the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries and a new series, begun this year, called the Southern Ladies Mysteries.

     Bless Her Dead Little Heart  is the title of the Southern Ladies Mysteries. This series takes two minor characters from the Cat in the Stacks series and gives them the spotlight. Miss An'gel and Miss Dickse Ducote are two elderly sisters who live a life of philanthropy in Athena, Mississippi. They are from a very old, wealthy Athena family. Most of their time is spent sitting on boards and committees that benefit the arts and scholastic community in their small college town. They happen to be friends with semi-retired librarian, Charlie Harris and his very large, very vocal Maine coon cat, Diesel. While Charlie is away in France with his family, the Ducote sisters have agreed to cat sit Diesel; after all, he is the most gentlemanly cat they have ever entertained.
     One afternoon, an old sorority sister surprises the sisters by showing up at their door and begins to spin a tale of how someone in her family is trying to kill her. The Ducote sisters have known Rosabelle Sultan for about fifty years and they know what kind of woman she is--self-centered, overly dramatic, and money hungry. The sisters begin to wonder, however, when Rosabelle's n'er do well family begin turning up on their doorstep as well. The first day, Rosabelle's daughter-in-law is killed when she falls down the marble staircase. Was it a horrible accident, or was it murder? Was the daughter-in-law the intended target or was Rosabelle meant to have suffered that fate? Two more murders and a fire take place before the Ducote sisters can get their house and sanity back from these rich, but classless bunch. All the while, Diesel helps the sisters to suss-out who they can trust and who may be a potential killer. This is a very quick and satisfying read. The author keeps you guessing until the end which makes for my favorite king of mystery.

     The other Miranda James novel I have recently read is Arsenic and Old Books. This is the sixth cozy featuring librarian Charlie Harris and his Maine coon cat, Diesel. Charlie is feeling a little lonely in the old house he inherited from his aunt since his daughter got married and his son is practically living with his girlfriend. He still has his boarder, but he, too, is spending more time with his lover than at home. When Athena's mayor, Lucinda Beckwith Long, brings Charlie some old books and papers for the archives at Athena College's library, he hopes that cataloging these items--including several Civil War-era diaries--will provide a much needed distraction. He doesn't expect, however, for these diaries to cause such an uproar in both the college's faculty and in the political race for a seat in the state Senate. Charlie is even more horrified when the diaries lead to a murder! Do the diaries hold the key to long held rivalries, or will the be responsible for more pain and suffering? As usual, Charlie and Diesel get caught-up in the melee.

     These are great cozies to read. I still haven't read the first few books in the series; and it really isn't necessary to do so because James does a wonderful job of writing in the pertinent information whenever there is a reference to some past event. Diesel's reactions to Charlie and the other characters in these books is priceless. He is a very vocal, chatty cat and very discerning in his choice of humans. Also included in this book is a short story telling how it is that Diesel came to live with Charlie.
     Miranda James is actually the pseudonym of Dean James, a native Mississippian who resides in Texas and is currently a librarian at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. He has written several scholarly articles and has collaborated with other authors. He has had nearly twenty novels published since 2000 using the pseudonyms Jimmie Ruth Evans, Honor Hartman, and Miranda James.

Looking into the case on Jack the Ripper as well as into the mind of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes

Written by a father and son team of doctors, this isn't your usual look at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.  This is a look Doyle and his fascination - possibly obsession - with Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders.

In the spring of 1905, Doyle was one of a group that was taken on a tour of the Jack the Ripper murder sites guided by the chief police surgeon for London, Doctor Frederick Gordon Brown.  This book recreates this tour, but instead of Doctor Brown, the guide is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, adding his observations and opinions to the tour, all of which are based on the actual historical accounts.

In addition to being a very detailed look into the murders committed by Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel District as it was between 1888 - 1910, there is also a great deal you learn about the youth and upbringing of Doyle.  Part true crime examination, part historical guide to the Whitechapel District and part biography, the book unearths quite a lot of information that has not all been gathered in one volume before.  Most intriguing is the possible identity of Jack the Ripper himself as put forward as a theory to consider by the authors.

New Knit and Crochet Projects

We have recently received some very nice knitting and crocheting books here at the library. They involve projects such as hats, socks, cowls, shawls, and pillows. Now, I'm no knitter, but I do like to crochet a little bit and these books provide easy projects that are small enough not to be daunting and large enough to give you all the practice you want.

The first book is One + One Wraps, Cowls & Capelets by Iris Schreier. This book features twenty-nine knitting projects that use just two skeins of yarn. These versatile wardrobe staples range in yarns and techniques. The fifteen selected designers showcase projects for warm and cold weather, classic and trendy styles. The patterns included here range from the feminine 'Lacy Cape' which is worked in the round to make it completely seamless; to the 'Textured Reversible Cowl' that is sure to keep you toasty in winter. Each project lists the materials, tools, gauge and finished measurements, as well as, the skill level needed to complete it. So, if you are a beginner, you may want to try the 'Triangle Lace Shawl' or the 'Star Stitch Shoulder Wrap.'

The next book is entitled, happyfeet: unique knits to knock your socks off by Cathy Carron. The author offers her own twists on socks, slippers, legwarmers, knee-highs, and much more in this collection of more than forty designs. There are socks with pom poms; socks with pockets; petite slipper socks; and creative holiday-themed socks. Want a retro look? Try one of several styles of leg warmers. There is even a pattern for fuzzy slippers that uses flip flop soles to add structure. You may even want to tackle the snuggly sack to keep your feet and legs cozy while you're lounging around on a cold day. Cathy Carron includes supply lists and detailed instructions for each of her projects as well as rating how difficult each one may be. She also illustrates the stitches used in this book in a section in the back.

Crocheted animal hats is by Vanessa Mooncie and it is subtitled "15 Patterns to Hook and Show Off." These fifteen projects are the leopard, frog, raccoon, deer, sheep, parrot, zebra, duck, tiger, husky, bear, pig, giraffe, owl, and rabbit. My personal favorites are the husky, giraffe, and the owl. These are cute projects for you to crochet for yourself or perhaps a child--the author gives instructions for both sizes. Each cozy hat has the same basic shape, including ear flaps to keep you nice and toasty on a cold day. The author gives detailed stitching instructions for each hat as well as explaining how to line each one with fabric. She also goes over the basic crocheting techniques you will need to complete your projects.

The final book I'll cover here is Crocheted Pillows by Susie Johns. This books covers projects that the beginning crocheter will probably find a bit less daunting than the more intricate hats of the

above book. To begin, this book describes the materials you will need, demonstrates the techniques that will be used, and how to add seams, fastenings, and buttons. The author covers round pillows, square pillows, bolsters, chair cushions, a pincushion, and even a pillow shaped like a chicken! Each pattern is detailed and includes a vibrant photograph to show the finished project. Also included in this slim book is a reference page with hook and yarn conversions along with a key for the abbreviations used in the book. There is also a template for the Ball-shaped pillow found on pages 30-33.
These four lovely books are just what you need to improve your skills in yarn-craft and to create unique gifts for family and friends. Check out these, and other fiber craft books, here at the library. They can all be found in the non-fiction section under the Dewey Decimal number 746.

A Look Back at the Stories Behind Classic Hollywood Tabloid News

An interesting new addition to our Large Type collection is 'Scandals of Classic Hollywood : Sex, Deviance, and Drama from the Golden Age of American Cinema' by Anne Helen Petersen.

The book has fourteen chapters, each devoted to a different celebrity or scandal. Stars of the silent screen such as Rudolph Valentino and Clara Bow (The 'It' Girl), early talking film stars and stars like Marlon Brando that started in black and white films and survived the transition to color.

Not just a collection of clippings from gossip columns, the stories include what was happening in politics, history and Hollywood, informing about the time and place as well as the events - some not so scandalous by today's standards, but shocking and, in some cases, career ending in their day.